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Mental Stress – 2023 Year in Review

FEDERAL

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Feb 6: The national suicide mortality rate in 2019 was 12.1 per 100,000, 4,528 deaths, according to a new government report. Suffocation was the leading cause of suicide deaths. Suicide rates were higher among males in all age groups. However, hospitalization for intentional self-harm was higher among females at 83 per 100,000, versus 49 per 100,000 males. Action Point: Create a legally sound policy for accommodating employees with mental disabilities

NEW BRUNSWICK

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Aug 8: WorkSafeNB began public consultations on whether to seek changes to the Workers Compensation Act that would make post-traumatic stress disorder presumptively work-related when diagnosed in a correctional officer after a work-related incident. The same presumption already applies to police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Action Point: Create a legally sound policy for accommodating employees with mental disabilities

NOVA SCOTIA

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Feb 22: Nova Scotia launched a new Access Wellness service offering residents free one-on-one counseling for general mental health concerns, including anxiety, job loss, grief, substance abuse and relationship issues, as well as couples and family counseling. Action Point: Create a legally sound policy for accommodating employees with mental disabilities

Nov 9: Nova Scotia officially adopted Bill 332 providing workers comp benefits to workers who suffer gradual onset of traumatic mental stress due to work-related stressors, effective Sept. 1, 2024. Current rules limit coverage to acute mental stress caused by a discrete traumatic event that happens at work, like witnessing a co-worker’s death. Action Point: Find out about workers comp coverage of mental stress claims in Canada

Nov 23: The Nova Scotia WCB began public review of proposed changes to its current work-related mental stress coverage rules of psychological injuries in response to the passage of Bill 332 making gradual onset of traumatic mental stress a compensable injury. Deadline to comment: Feb. 15.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mar 20: Despite moderate declines in 2022, medical visits related to anxiety are still above pre-pandemic levels. Those are among the findings of a new GNWT report analyzing the long term social impacts of the public health measures it implement during the pandemic to prevent the spread of COVID. Action Point: Create a legally sound policy for accommodating employees with mental disabilities